Zaika: An Assault on the Senses

Are you as addicted to Indian food as I am ? The mere mention of Naan, samosas, pakora, mango chutney, curries and biryani make me weak in the knees... not to mention desperately hungry.. .!

I recently went up to Clifton Park and reviewed an Indian restaurant called "Zaika". I was pleasantly surprised - the food was authentic, satisfying and tasty - and the prices incredibly reasonable. See my full review here: http://www.albany.com/capitalregionliving/2010/02/zaika.html#more .

Happy Food To Cheer Up Any Gloomy Night

I’ve always said that Mexican food is ‘happy food’… and the whole El Loco experience supports my claim. Not only does El Loco serve delicious, authentic food, the atmosphere just seems to shout “good times will be had here”.

This past Friday night Peter and I ventured out in search of some happiness, in the form of food and alcohol - was there any other option but El Loco? No, mi amigo, there was not.
As we entered the building at 465 Madison Avenue in Albany, brightly colored and whimsical décor immediately started to have an effect – this is sooo what was needed…

It was a little later than most Capital Region residents tend to head out to dinner - but there were about half a dozen tables occupied. The hostess seated us in the back, at a nice cozy table perfect for devouring lots of tortilla chips and salsa in relative obscurity...

The drinks were easy: 2 Loco’s Gourmet House Margaritas, on the rocks with salt.. ahhhhh… just the sound of Peter ordering relaxed me.. is that bad? Whatever..
El Loco happens to make one of the best Margaritas around, the menu even states adamantly that “sour mix is never used”. (Warning: they do pack quite the punch, so don’t let the size of the small glass fool you!)
Our drinks were tart and refreshing, and paired with our basket of chips and Salsa Roja, I was fast approaching food euphoria. And our waitress was sweet enough to let us linger and after inquiring twice about whether we were ready to order, simply told us to relax and just let us know when we needed her.

So... the bowl of Salsa Roja was just about empty…thanks to Peter literally drinking from it, (picture that if you will....) so now it was about time to peruse the menu. Being newly “pescatarian”, (vegetarian who eats some fish) narrowed the menu choices down somewhat – but pleasantly there was still a decent amount of choices for us non-meat eating types. After flip-flopping between the Veggie Quesadillas (which Peter declared as a “lame choice” as anyone could make those..) and the Burrito Espinaca con Champiniones I went with the later. The dish translated into a Spinach Burrito with mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and shallots, topped with jack & cheddar cheeses, and served with black beans and Mexican rice, which I ordered with a side of guacamole.

Peter chose the Vegetable Enchiladas Mole Negro; a mix of zucchini, mushrooms, potatoes, peppers and onions, sauteed in mole sauce, wrapped in corn tortillas and covered with more mole and cheese. His dinner was also served with black beans and Mexican rice.

Both dishes it turned out were pure comfort food. It was hard not to feel good while cheese oozed out of my burrito and got all over everything, including me, while the spinach inevitably got caught in my teeth. The combination of spinach and mushrooms was a real winner, hearty and satisfying enough to make me not miss the meat. And the cheeses.. well, that’s always the icing on the cake, isn’t it?

Peter’s dish was just as consoling and fulfilling. The mix of veggies provided a combination of textures both crunchy and soft, and the complex, authentic mole sauce nicely kept the rich cheese in check. Again, our waitress let us take our time - we slowly savored every bite and every sip.

All of this paired with two more Margaritas and I think we managed to turn the night around to some degree. Olé!

Jack's Oyster House - Still Good After All These Years

The next restaurant review is live kids... check out it out here. I got to visit an Albany institution, Jack's Oyster House.

...Did I mention how much I love this gig? And this dining experience was truly a pleasure...

Have you been recently? What did you think?

The Standard Restaurant, My Take On a Mall Restaurant

It's live - my first Restaurant Review for Capital Region living magazine - check it out!



And keep your eye out for next month's issue when I review the legendary Jack's Oyster House in Albany - that was a fun review...

Me and Seafood Stew – A Love Story

Okay, I admit, there hasn’t always been love between seafood stew and I. In fact early on I was practically repulsed by the mere mention of the name:“Seafood stew”?? - not at all appealing.. kind of like "Fish Tacos".. two things you would not normally pair together. But alas, with age I came to appreciate both the great sophistication and simplicity of this dish. Not to mention the fact seafood stew easily lends itself to modification - and when I’m in the kitchen, I’m all about tweaking a recipe to suit my tastes.

My affection for seafood stew can most probably be traced to a quest for a healthy and delicious seafood dish to make on a rainy day. In my search I came across several recipes for Bouillabaisse and Cioppino, (the French and Italian versions of seafood stew respectively). Not having all the seafood on hand that these recipes traditionally call for, I simply improvised –re-creating the recipe with what I did have on hand.

I started by surveying the seafood I happened to have in my fridge – I found shrimp, practically a staple in my house, and some halibut. I also had onions, garlic and some peppers. Okay, I thought, I can make something with this.
I then proceeded to make my version of seafood stew .. which it turns out, I absolutely adored and now make all the time. To feel the love yourself, I've included my basic recipe below. Of course, the magic is that you can easily substitute ingredients based on availability and/or preference. Here's a good tip - keep some Dry Vermouth in your pantry - which is simply white wine fortified with herbs. It's got great flavor and costs less than $6.00 for a regular sized bottle. You can use it wherever white wine is called for, or even when it's not. Just a word of caution, it's flavor can be stronger, and the alcohol content certainly higher, than your average Sauvignon Blanc, so be sure to start by adding just a little vermouth, and then add more to taste. If you need to add more liquid, try chicken stock, clam juice or just some water.

Lastly, don’t let the long list of ingredients scare you, this recipe is so easy and takes only about 30 minutes to cook from start to finish. Prep time is a mere 5-10 minutes of chopping.

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray (like Pam)
• 1 1/2 cups chopped sweet yellow onion
• 1 cup chopped green and red bell pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups red potato, cubed
• 1 28 oz. can of chopped seeded peeled tomatoes in juice
• 1 1/2 cups clam juice
• 1 cup dry white wine – or chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 4 or 5 ‘shakes’ of Tabasco sauce, to taste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/4 pounds white fish fillets, like cod, halibut or sole or tilapia - cut into 3- x 1-inch pieces
• 1/4 - 1/2 pound shrimp and/or scallops, clams or mussels
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley
  

Directions:

• Coat a Dutch oven with a generous amount of cooking spray and put on medium-high heat.
• Add onion, red and green peppers, crushed red pepper, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes.
• Add potato and the rest of the ingredients through the bay leaf; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer 15 minutes. Stir in fish, shrimp, etc. and sherry; cook an additional 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork and clam and mussel shells open up.
• Stir in parsley at very end.
• Serve in bowls with sliced baguette pieces brushed with garlic and olive oil, then broiled for 5 minutes.

New! Check out My Recipes on BigOven.com

I've added some of my favorite recipes on the cooking Web site, BigOven.com.

My latest entry is an apple cranberry walnut crisp - what better to make this time of year? It's healthy and delicious.. provided you don't eat it with a half gallon of vanilla ice cream...

Where Everything is Good And Everyone Knows My Name, Or Should, By Now

Albany's Wine Bar and Bistro located at 200 Lark Street is one of my favorite local places to hang out with friends, relax, enjoy some good food and great wine. It's the kind of place you want to go to unwind after a tough day, or to celebrate with friends. The atmosphere lends itself to both moods. I have to confess I am there at least once a month, and it’s a good thing I don’t live any closer, or I’d be there more often.

The space is the first thing you’ll notice – it’s below street-level and feels a little like walking into a cave – a nice cozy cave with wine bottles all around you. The atmosphere is positively charming and peaceful and relaxing, especially in the winter, when they have the fireplaces going and you’re sitting in a booth covered with throw pillows – it has the feeling of someone’s living room.

After being seated you’re handed a wine list that’s the equivalent of War & Peace, as well as the menu. Since Chef Kevin Everleth took over a few years ago (in late 2007 I believe) the menu has expanded and improved greatly. I understand that the entrée’s in particular are a special treat – but I have to say that when I make a trip to the Wine Bar, it’s all about the wine – this means I start with choosing my wine and then work backwards, usually choosing an appetizer that best suits what’s in my glass. On recent visits I’ve had a splendid Petite Syrah, a refreshing Prosecco, a Syrah from Morocco called “Syrocco”, (the only Moroccan wine on the menu, which yes, is why I ordered it) and many fabulous red Zinfinadels – my red wine of choice lately with the colder weather approaching. I’ve never had a bad glass of wine there, and if I’m ever unsure, I know that the educated staff is always there to help me. Quite remarkable, as most of them seem incredibly young…

After the important choice of wine has been made I can relax and think about food… I rarely miss the opportunity to order the appetizer plate featuring outstanding cheeses, a variety of olives and assorted veggies. The Wine Bar is now also featuring a new plate of 4 spreads I tried on my last visit. It features hummus, baba ganoush, a walnut pesto to die for, and a savory white bean spread. Served with their perfect baguette and olive oil, I convince myself that this is all I need in life… and I wonder– would they let me live there?

I’ve noticed after several recent visits that the menu has changed – always a good sign to see that new, seasonal dishes are being featured – especially for regulars like me, who’ve tried almost all the appetizers and small plates.. the extensive wine list on the other hand, will take some time to get through – which is just fine with me.

Albany Just Might Be Ready For This Place

Tonight was my fourth visit to the recently opened New World Bistro Bar on what's becoming a transformation of Delaware Ave. in Albany - and thank god - it couldn't have come at a better time... well, maybe it could have come sooner...

Anyway I'm always excited to go here - this restaurant's arrival to the area is like the cool kid arriving at the party - and Albany is the party - and in real need of some coolness.. It's a Tuesday night, and at exactly 5:03, as I'm waiting for my friend T. to show up I witnesses a sudden stream of cars into the parking lot - has no one told these people it's Tuesday??? In Albany?? But I'm not complaining, mind you, I was just a little thrown..

T. arrives and it's a good thing she does, because the crowd continues to grow and the hostess isn't confident she could seat us - but after a second look she manages to find a table for two in the bar area. We gladly take it.

The first thing you notice when walking in the door is the palpable energy - of the staff, the patrons, the walls, the tables and the chairs... perhaps a long-forgotten feeling for diners that eat out regularly in the Capital District - but again, I'm not complaining - it's a welcome change. And the food is good too..

We start off sharing the deviled eggs appetizer - which may seem an odd choice, except that these are made so well, I'll likely order them every time. The filling is spicy - probably the result of the addition of some good Dijon, and they're topped with some fish roe - giving that perfect added texture to what is otherwise a soft and creamy bite. And they go perfectly with my house sparkling wine - a great summer choice, light, dry and crisp. It's listed on the menu as a Paul Cheneau Cava, from Spain. I highly recommend it.
For dinner T. tries the "Evita Peron" pizza - and I have to admit I'm jealous after seeing it arrive to the table - this ultra thin, almost cracker like crust is topped with crumbled “Morcillia”, mozzarella, onions, tomatoes, parsley - and again, makes another fabulous summer menu choice.
As you may have figured out after reading previous blog posts, I'm a sucker for tuna - so I opt for the arugula, beets, manchego and sunflower salad topped with blackened ahi tuna, cooked rare. Terrific.. the greens, tossed with an ultra light vinaigrette, are peppery and light, the beets add some substance and the sunflower seeds provide a nice crunch. And don't even get me started on the tuna - fantastic.. pretty much raw inside, the outside with it's crisp blackened crust is a perfect contrast.
Not only was the food a joy, but the service was attentive without hovering - we were left to enjoy our meal and chat for almost 3 hours - even as we watched people lining up to be seated.
So don't miss this place - it's the shot in the arm Albany's been needing for a long time, and I can only hope that it's success creates an environment where more new, bold and exciting restaurants feel they can make it here, in Albany, home of the chain restaurant. And I think we can handle it.. I really do..